American Academy of Private Physicians Board of Directors

Jordan Shlain, M.D., President

Dr. Jordan Shlain, the current president of AAPP, founded San Francisco On Call Medical Group in 1997 because he wanted to run a medical practice that puts a priority on the doctor-patient relationship. During his residency, Dr. Shlain had the opportunity to provide a house call for an elderly patient – an experience that made a lasting impression. He realized he was able to spend the amount of time with a patient necessary to offer the best care in the comfort of the patient’s own home. Dr. Shlain found that this unhurried, more comprehensive way of practicing medicine is consistent with the natural instincts of a doctor, namely being concerned first and foremost with the care of each patient. It became clear to him that the ‘housecall’ could benefit many other people and he soon became the physician of choice for the hospitality industry as well as the maritime industry. Today, the top hotels in San Francisco call on SF On Call Medical Group as well as the cruise lines, airlines and consulates. However, the largest part of the practice are Bay Area residents who do not wish to visit the Emergency Room or are looking for a convenient, same-day medical visit at their home or their office. Dr. Shlain is also an assistant clinical professor at the U.C.S.F. Medical Center, and a medical economics lecturer at U.C. Berkeley. He is also the Northern California medical director for Lufthansa Airlines, and is on the board of directors for the San Francisco Medical Society. He received a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.D. from Georgetown University Medical School.

Marcy Zwelling-Aamot, M.D., Chairman of the Board

Marcy Zwelling-Aamot, M.D. is the current chairman of the board and former president of AAPP, a respected member of the California medical community, and a prominent voice in the crusade to improve the broken healthcare system. Dr. Zwelling-Aamot is an actively double board-certified physician, a notable achievement even among the best doctors in the nation. Marcy graduated with honors from Wellesley College and studied medicine at New York University Medical School where she graduated at the top of her class. Dr. Zwelling arrived in Los Angeles in 1980 and completed her residency training in both Internal and Emergency Medicine at Harbor-UCLA. She achieved board certification in both specialties and went on to become boarded in utilization review and to work in Critical Care. In 2004 Dr. Zwelling-Aamot dramatically reduced the size of her practice, adopting the Concierge Medicine model in order to provide a higher level of access and attention to a smaller number of patients. “Choice Care provides my patients a level of access and attention that would be impossible to sustain in a traditional practice with 3-4000 patients. My commitment to my Choice Care patients goes well beyond treating them when they are sick. I act as their trusted health advocate as they navigate the healthcare system. I work hard to keep my patients looking good and feeling great… In sickness and health I do my utmost to give my patients a better day.”

Gary Price, M.D., FACP

Dr. Gary Price created the first concierge practice in Florida and one of the first in the country in 1998. His practice has been a resounding success and has inspired several other Southwest Florida physicians to follow suit. Dr. Price is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology (practicing primary care exclusively), is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and is a member of the Florida Medical Association and numerous other professional organizations. In 2007 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design (AAPP), where he will strive to be part of the movement to elevate the quality of healthcare at a national level. Dr. Price has been in practice in Fort Myers, Florida since 1987. He is on staff at all the major hospitals in Lee County, where he has distinguished himself as Chief of Medicine at Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center, Primary Care Division Chief at Lee Memorial Health System, Medical Director for Internal Medicine at Lee Memorial Health Systems, Chairman of the Lee Physician Group Executive Committee, Founder and Medical Director of Primary Healthcare Specialists, and numerous other accomplishments. After graduating with honors from Hofstra University in New York and being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. Price received his Medical Doctorate from the State University of New York – Downstate Medical Center in 1982. He then completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Miami, followed by a fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Since creating his concierge practice, Dr. Price has devoted the last decade to elevating the quality of healthcare to the highest level in Fort Myers and hopes through AAPP to be part of the movement to raise the bar at a national level. His wife Marlene is a Certified Public Account who manages his practice. They have been happily married since 1979 and have three children.

Charles C. Whitney, M.D., AAFP

Dr. Whitney graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1990 and completed his family practice residency at David Grant United States Air Force Medical Center in 1993. He is board-certified in the specialties of Family Medicine (1993) and Sports Medicine (1999). His experience includes seven years as an Air Force physician and six years at a University of Pennsylvania Health System practice before establishing his retainer practice Revolutionary Health Services in 2003. Dr. Whitney recognizes that our country’s healthcare system is in crisis. Patients need a true medical home where they have a skilled primary care physician to care for 90% of their problems. When outside help is needed, their physician needs to be trusted to be their advocate in maneuvering through the labyrinth we call the healthcare system. Unfortunately, fewer quality physicians are choosing primary care because working for insurance companies means lower reimbursements, more overhead, and more patients, all resulting in less ability to be their patients’ medical quarterback. His vision is for AAPP to be a leader in educating our nation that the only “cure” to the healthcare crisis is for doctors to once again work for our patients in a direct pay practice as occurred before the 1960s. By equipping physicians to do this, they can recapture the joy of practicing medicine. Both patients and doctors will be the winners.

Karen Josephson, M.D.

Dr. Josephson is a board certified internist and geriatrician. She received her BA in Political Science from the State University of New York at Binghamton and her MD from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Dr. Josephson conducted her Residency in internal medicine at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, MO. She has practiced and taught internal medicine and geriatric medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine for 12 years. In addition to belonging to AAPP, Dr. Josephson is a member of the Gerontological Society of America, the American Geriatrics Society, and the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine. Dr. Josephson works closely with agencies promoting health and wellness, such as Life Span, which produces Fitness Forever, an exercise program designed for seniors. She also gives numerous public presentations on issues concerning senior care for physicians and the community. When not at work, she enjoys biking and hiking with her husband and 2 boys.

Eric L. Weiss MD, DTM&H

Dr. Weiss joined the faculty at Stanford University in 1991 and holds positions in both Emergency Medicine and Infectious Diseases. In addition to founding the Stanford Travel Medicine Service, he developed and taught the first formal course on Travel Medicine at a United States medical school and currently lectures and consults internationally on emergency medicine, travel and tropical medicine topics. While at Stanford, Dr. Weiss was Medical Director for Stanford Life Flight as well as Emergency Medical Services for Stanford Hospital. Closer to home, he is the Medical Director for the Woodside Fire Department and is leading efforts to build a local Medical Reserve Corp to better serve our community.

From 1995 to 1997 Dr. Weiss was the Chief Medical Officer for San Francisco International Airport where he had his own primary care practice while also being responsible for all airport medical affairs including travel medicine, occupational health, and emergency medical services. From 1999 to 2001, he served as the Chief Medical Officer for MedicinePlanet, Inc., a high tech company dedicated to providing wireless health solutions to the mobile traveler. Dr. Weiss is currently on the Advisory Board of GlaxoSmithKline and Salix Pharmaceuticals helping with market strategies and vaccine development.

In 2004 Dr. Weiss relinquished his full time academic Stanford position and founded The Village Doctor, a so-called “Direct Care” or “Concierge Medicine” practice in Woodside. Having three young children at home he crafted a practice model and culture where he would like to have his family be patients. In addition to providing excellent healthcare, the goal was to have patients say “Wow!” when they walked out of the office or hung up the phone.

A fellow of both the American College of Emergency Medicine and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Dr. Weiss is also an active member of the International Society of Travel Medicine, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Society of Concierge Physicians. Dr. Weiss received a BS in Biological Sciences from Stanford, an MD from UCSF, completed his residency and chief residency in Emergency Medicine at UCLA, and trained at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he received his Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

J. Rand Baggesen, M.D.

J. Rand Baggesen, M.D. is the Director of Executive Healthcare for the Executive Health Evaluation Program at the CJW Levinson Heart Hospital. A graduate of University of Rhode Island, Dr. Baggesen attended the Medical College of Virginia and completed his residency in family practice at Chesterfield Family Practice, a VCU/MCV/Chippenham affiliated program. He served as chief resident and is currently an associate professor of medicine at the Medical College of Virginia.